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Florida Bill Proposing 3-Day ASC Stays Dies in House

A bill that would have allowed ambulatory surgery centers to keep patients up to three days after their operations has failed to pass the Florida House, according to a report from the Tampa Bay Times.

The bill was tied to another piece of legislation designed to protect three HCA trauma centers from legal action, according to another report from the Tampa Bay Times. While the House approved the measure 108 to nine, Senate members' attempts to amend and add to it ultimately led to the bill's failure.

Add-ons to the bill included requirements for physicians regarding prescription drug database visits, independence for nurses with a threshold level of education, telehealth regulations and the surgery center proposal, according to the report.

After lobbying from hospitals and the Florida Medical Association, the bill was discarded in the Senate, despite the House's assertions that allowing ASCs to keep patients could save money.